Board of directors
Jimi Cook
Co-Founder, Board Chairman
Columbia, MO
Co-Founder, Board Chairman
Columbia, MO
Jimi and Cristi Cook founded Be The Change Volunteers in 2007 during a supposed “one time” school building project in Rwanda (BTCV 001). The organization has grown beyond their wildest dreams, and more importantly, has held true to its mission of empowering communities through sustainable education-focused development aid. Jimi’s BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) for BTCV is to complete at least 100 projects during his lifetime. In his “day job”, Jimi serves as the Allen Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics and Mizzou BioJoint Center at the University of Missouri.
Cristi Cook
Co-Founder and Secretary/Treasurer
Columbia, MO
Co-Founder and Secretary/Treasurer
Columbia, MO
Cristi is the Co-founder of Be the Change Volunteers. She and her husband Jimi have served and led teams on education focused development aid projects all over the world. Cristi volunteers countless hours each year recording and depositing donations for BTCV among many other tasks that keep the organizations lights on every day. In her “day job,” Cristi serves as an assistant professor for the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics and Mizzou BioJoint Center at the University of Missouri and "freelance" veterinary radiologist.
Doug Willett
Board Member
Chicago, IL
Board Member
Chicago, IL
Doug has been volunteering on school related projects since the early 1990’s and has been an active participant with BTCV since its inception over 10 years ago. In that time Doug has led teams and volunteered on projects all over the world. In his spare time, he works for a company based in St. Louis that acquires closed industrial plants and cleans up the environmental contamination and then redevelops the property.
John Heidrich
Board Member
Albuquerque, NM
Board Member
Albuquerque, NM
John is a veterinarian in Albuquerque, New Mexico. While doing long-term work with elephants in Cambodia in 2011 he learned of a BTCV project that needed books and supplies delivered. John volunteered to help and has been serving with BTCV ever since. He has volunteered and led teams for BTCV all over the world. His wife Linda and son Jake have also volunteered with BTCV. The family runs the New Mexico Chapter of BTCV and has helped coordinate many opportunities including sending US teachers to give Continuing Education at BTCV partner schools.
Erin Burri
Board Member
Columbia, MO
Board Member
Columbia, MO
Erin is from Columbia, Mo where she works as a Realtor with ReMax Boone Realty. She and her husband Brett have a young son, Jackson. The family loves playing outdoors and can’t get enough water sports! Erin and her entire family are avid water skiers and enjoy traveling to water ski competitions. The family also enjoys golf, hiking, grilling and floating in the pool! Erin feels that God has blessed her family with many opportunities and gifts that they wish to share with as many people as possible. Her heart is truly committed to “Be’ing The Change” she wants to see in the world!
Brian Van Vechten
Board Member
Denver, CO
Board Member
Denver, CO
Brian is a veterinary surgeon in the Denver, Colorado area. He attended an early project to South Africa with Be The Change Volunteers and since that time has been involved in shaping the business of BTCV serving as a board member and finance committee member. Brian has also volunteered in Peru with his son Jake on the Chino campus. Outside of work he and his wife Liz enjoy spending time with their three children; Alexandria, Jacob and Nicholas. The family enjoys outdoor activities including hiking and skiing.
Pam Plouhar
Board Member
South Bend, IN
Board Member
South Bend, IN
Pam is a recently retired executive from Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices. She has a passion for encouraging and developing youth and has volunteered with a variety of different organizations focused on youth leadership development. Education is an important part of that development and BTCV offers an opportunity to encourage youth development globally. Pam and her husband Neil, who live in South Bend Indiana have participated in several BTCV builds in Central and South America. In her spare time enjoys outdoor activities including golf, yard work, training dogs and travel.
Staff
Grant Venable
Director of Change
Phoenix, AZ
Director of Change
Phoenix, AZ
Grant is the Director of Change at Be The Change Volunteers, “DOC”. He has led teams and served on projects in North America, Asia, Africa, South America and the Pacific Islands. He runs the day to day operations for BTCV and coordinates all projects. He is experienced in the business sector, light construction, international project management, and emergency medical rescue. In his free time he volunteers locally at church and with the sheriff’s office. Grant currently lives in Arizona with his wife and two daughters. The family loves warm weather, hiking, biking and all things outdoors!
Debbie Waggoner
Senior Intern of Change
Columbia, MO
Senior Intern of Change
Columbia, MO
Debbie retired from State Farm Insurance in September, 2016 after working there for over 40 years. She now serves as Senior Intern of Change for BTCV. Working daily with the co-founders and director, Debbie ensures that every volunteer is taken care of. She follows her passion of going on builds to help change lives and build relationships with Changers and the people of the communities where BTCV has projects. Debbie has been on builds in India, Malawi, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Puerto Rico.
Advisory Council
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Greg Jones - Legal
Vice President Central Trust Company Columbia, MO Marcus Scott - Finance Senior Vice President, Portfolio Manager Tower Wealth Managers Kansas City, MO Dusty Hoffman - Security Captain Missouri State Highway Patrol Columbia, MO Adam Dube - Education Administration Head of School Columbia Independent School Columbia, MO Norm Chong - Business Global Business Development Manager Agilent Technologies Austin, TX Scott Daugherty - Construction Owner Fairway Meadows Corporation Columbia, MO Linda Karl - Compliance/Safety Compliance Manager Missouri Employers Mutual Insurance Columbia, MO Julie Estes - Education Teacher - Retired Central Christian School St. Charles, MO Antonio Pozzi - International Professor of Veterinary Surgery University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland Chris Adejo - International Office Support Asst./Patient Coordinator, Limb Preservation Center, Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, Columbia, MO |
Tom Treece - Business, Past Board Member
Retired Liberty Mutual Boston, MO Glenn Willett - Business, Past Board Member Retired IBM Columbus, OH Shari Hamilton - Business, Past Board Member Veterinarian IDEXX Columbia, MO |